SWE 205 is part of the Minor in Software Engineering and the BS in Applied Computer Science, concentration in Software Engineering. SWE 205 is also suitable for all students interested in usable computing applications, including students in psychology/human factors, computer science, math, physics, and all engineering fields.

TEXTS:

• The Design of Everyday Things, Don Norman, 1988 (reprinted 2002), Basic Books, ISBN-10: 0465067107. (required)
• Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability, 2nd Edition, Steve Krug, 2005, New Riders Press, ISBN-10: 0321344758 (required)
• Be sure to look at User Friendly, the comic strip!

CATALOG:

Principles of user interface design. Concepts for objectively and quantitatively assessing the usability of software user interfaces. Outcomes include knowledge of quantitative engineering principles for designing usable software interfaces and an understanding that usability is more important than efficiency for almost all modern software projects, and often the primary factor that leads to product success. Major topics include cognitive models for human perceptions and needs, which are used as a basis for analytical and critical thinking about user interfaces; specific engineering principles for designing usable menus, forms, command languages, web sites, graphical user interfaces and web-based user interfaces. Assessments will include written analytical evaluations of existing user interfaces, exams, and HTML-based design projects.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Knowledge of quantitative engineering principles for how to build software interfaces that are usable.
2. Understanding that usability is more important than efficiency for almost all modern software projects, and often the primary factor that leads to product success.
3. The ability to critically analyze existing user interfaces and express their positive and negative aspects in engineering terms, both verbally and written.

CONTENT & STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:

After completing this course, students should understand how to design and evaluate software interfaces that are appropriate for the user. The class will rely on critical thinking to understand what makes a computer UI usable. We will look at many example UIs and discuss what they do right and what they do wrong. Grading will be based on a midterm, a final, several written usability assessments, and class participation. SWE 205 will not require programming.

READINGS:

The schedule for the readings are on the schedule web page. Most chapters are fairly short and easy reads.

HOMEWORKS:

We will have around 10 homework assignments. Some will be usability evaluations of software interfaces and require a short written report, and some will require examples to be brought into class.

CLASS PARTICIPATION:

Students must be actively engaged with this class throughout the semester. Students must attend class, participate in classroom discussions, and participate in the online bulletin board (Piazza). This is an easy, but essential part of your grade.

The tentative, subject to change participation scoring will be as follows. Accumulate up to 60 points (slightly over 5.5 per week). Participation is worth 25% of the overall grade, so 60 points is the full 25%, 48 points is 20%, etc. Point assignment will follow the formula:

• Participation in class meeting
  • 1 point for attending
  • 2 points for joining a discussion
• Participation on Piazza
  • 3: Usability posting (Stupid Usability Tricks, Outstanding Usability Tricks)
  • 1: Comment on one of the above (a comment with content!)
  • 2: Terminology posting
  • 1: Assigned forum checkins

EXAMS:

There will be a midterm and a final exam, both closed-book in class.

MAKEUPS:

Unless arrangements are worked out in advance, missed tests cannot be made up, and 10% per week will be deducted for late homework submissions. If you are going to be forced to miss class on the day something is due, let me know ahead of time by email or in writing. Per GMU policy, all homeworks and projects must be submitted before the beginning of the GMU reading period (May 7).

DISCUSSION BOARD USE

All students will be enrolled in the discussion forum for SWE 205 on Piazza. You will receive a invitation to this free resource via your GMU email. We will use the discussion board throughout the semester.

HONOR CODE STATEMENT:

As with all GMU courses, SWE 205 is governed by the GMU Honor Code. In this course, all assignments, exams, and project submissions carry with them an implicit statement that it is the sole work of the author, unless joint work is explicitly authorized. Help may be obtained from the instructor or other students to understand the description of the problem and any technology, but the solution, particularly the design portion, must be the student's own work. If joint work is authorized, all contributing students must be listed on the submission. Any deviation from this is considered an Honor Code violation, and as a minimum, will result in failure of the submission and as a maximum, failure of the class.

OFFICE OF DISABILITY SERVICES:

If you are a student with a disability and you need academic accommodations, please see me and contact the Disability Resource Center (DRC) at 993-2474. All academic accommodations must be arranged through the DRC.

OTHER USEFUL CAMPUS RESOURCES:

Writing Center: A114 Robinson Hall; (703) 993-1200; http://writingcenter.gmu.edu
University Libraries "Ask a Librarian" http://library.gmu.edu/mudge/IM/IMRef.html
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): (703) 993-2380; http://caps.gmu.edu

MASON EMAIL ACCOUNTS:

Students must use their MasonLIVE email account to receive important University information, including messages related to this class. See http://masonlive.gmu.edu for more information.

GRADING:

Grades will be (approximately): 20% the homeworks, 25% class participation, 25% the midterm, and 30% the final.

© Jeff Offutt, 2012, all rights reserved. This document is made available for use by GMU students of SWE 205. Copying, distribution or other use of this document without express permission of the author is forbidden. You may create links to pages in this web site, but may not copy all or part of the text without permission of the author.